| abstract |
Selective PDE4 inhibition is achieved by novel compounds, e.g., 4-(substituted-phenyl)-2-pyrrolidinone compounds. The compounds of the present invention are of formula (I) wherein R<SUP>1</SUP>, R<SUP>2</SUP> and R<SUP>3</SUP> are as defined in the description. The disclosure also relates to methods of preparing such compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and methods of use thereof, wherein said patient is suffering from memory impairment due to mild cognitive impairment due to aging, psychoathy, schizophrenia, depression, allergic or inflammatory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neural degeneration, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis. |